Dr Deirdre MacManus
SCHR member
Dr MacManus holds the position of Clinical Reader at King’s College London and a focus of her research for many years has been psychological trauma, in particular trauma among those affected by war and violent conflict and trauma among offender populations.
Her research into the prevalence of trauma related conditions, associated longer-term consequences, treatment approaches and trauma informed care in these populations has attracted funding from major UK research councils, contributed to the development of UK Government policies and impacted service development both in the NHS and HMPPS. She is also a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist with over two decades of clinical experience, much of which has been spent endeavouring to improve mental healthcare for populations who have experienced significant trauma, in prison and in the community.
She was the trauma lead for HMP Wandsworth, London. She was involved in the establishment of and subsequently became joint head of one of the first regional NHS mental health services for UK military veterans in London. She is a member of the advisory panel for the Royal College of Psychiatrists Quality Network in Veteran Mental Health Services. She engages in international work, most recently utilising both her forensic psychiatry and trauma expertise to provide clinical and research advice and training to those endeavouring to improve mental health and justice services in Ukraine. She is a member of the International Scientific Advisory Board for the development of the Centre for Clinical and Research Excellence in Veteran Mental Health in Kiev, Ukraine.
